Those environmental mitigation conditions include construction of the route designated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as environmentally preferable, compliance with the mitigation imposed by FRA in its Record of Decision and compliance with three additional environmental conditions recommended by STB's Office of Environmental Analysis.

The segment that STB approved would connect a Fresno station, King/Tulare regional station and a Bakersfield station.

In other CHSRA news, the board of directors awarded the Project and Construction Management (PCM) contract for Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3) to ARCADIS U.S. Inc. CHSRA said the purpose of the PCM contract is to provide design and construction oversight for CP 2-3, granting oversight that minimizes construction risks and ensures Californians delivery of a high-speed rail system meets the mandates of Proposition 1A.

As an additional layer of project oversight, ARCADIS will work with the CHSRA and the as-yet-to-be-selected Design Build contractor to identify, manage and mitigate project risks and make sure technical and contract requirements, including costs, are met for CP 2-3. Specific PCM duties include oversight of inspection and testing of the high-speed train infrastructure, technical and environmental compliance including hazmat oversight, utility relocation, construction safety and public outreach. Under the agreed upon contract, ARCADIS could receive up to $71.86 million based on actual work performed over a period of approximately five years.

Work on CP 2-3 will extend in excess of 60-miles through the Central Valley beginning at East American Avenue in Fresno and continue south to approximately one mile north of the Tulare-Kern County line.